GEOLOGY 201 FINAL EXAM SUNY NEW PALTZ
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
What are the key steps of the Scientific Method?
The key steps include observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, analysis of data,
and conclusion.
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a scientific theory?
A hypothesis is a testable prediction, while a scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation
based on a body of evidence.
What are the characteristics of a strong hypothesis?
A strong hypothesis is testable, falsifiable, based on prior knowledge, and provides clear
predictions.
What is the internal structure of the Earth?
The Earth consists of the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core, each with distinct properties
and compositions.
How are seismic waves used to study the Earth's interior?
Seismic waves travel at different speeds through solid and liquid materials, allowing scientists to
infer the composition and state of Earth's layers.
What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust?
Oceanic crust is thinner, denser, and primarily composed of basalt, while continental crust is
thicker, less dense, and mainly composed of granite.
What is isostasy?
Isostasy is the equilibrium of the Earth's crust floating on the denser, underlying mantle,
explaining height differences between oceanic and continental crust.
What is a mineral?
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and
crystalline structure.
What are the major constituent elements of the bulk Earth and crust?
The major elements include oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and
magnesium.
What is Moh's Hardness Scale?
, Moh's Hardness Scale ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch one another, ranging from
talc (1) to diamond (10).
What is the Continental Drift model?
The Continental Drift model, proposed by Alfred Wegener, suggests that continents were once
connected and have since drifted apart.
What is paleomagnetism?
Paleomagnetism is the study of the magnetic properties of rocks, which helps determine the
historical positions of continents.
What is the Sea-floor Spreading hypothesis?
The Sea-floor Spreading hypothesis, developed by Harry Hess, proposes that new oceanic crust
is formed at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward.
What are the types of plate boundaries?
The types of plate boundaries include divergent, convergent (subduction and continental
collision), and transform boundaries.
What are hot spots?
Hot spots are volcanic regions fed by underlying mantle that is anomalously hot, leading to
volcanic activity independent of plate boundaries.
What is mantle convection?
Mantle convection is the process by which heat from the Earth's interior causes the mantle to
circulate, driving plate tectonics.
What is an igneous rock?
An igneous rock is formed from the solidification of molten material (magma or lava).
What is the difference between magma and lava?
Magma is molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, while lava is magma that has erupted onto the
surface.
What are intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks?
Intrusive igneous rocks form from magma that cools slowly underground, while extrusive
igneous rocks form from lava that cools quickly on the surface.
What is the rock cycle?
The rock cycle is the continuous process of rock formation and transformation through igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic processes.
What is metamorphism?
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
What are the key steps of the Scientific Method?
The key steps include observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, analysis of data,
and conclusion.
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a scientific theory?
A hypothesis is a testable prediction, while a scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation
based on a body of evidence.
What are the characteristics of a strong hypothesis?
A strong hypothesis is testable, falsifiable, based on prior knowledge, and provides clear
predictions.
What is the internal structure of the Earth?
The Earth consists of the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core, each with distinct properties
and compositions.
How are seismic waves used to study the Earth's interior?
Seismic waves travel at different speeds through solid and liquid materials, allowing scientists to
infer the composition and state of Earth's layers.
What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust?
Oceanic crust is thinner, denser, and primarily composed of basalt, while continental crust is
thicker, less dense, and mainly composed of granite.
What is isostasy?
Isostasy is the equilibrium of the Earth's crust floating on the denser, underlying mantle,
explaining height differences between oceanic and continental crust.
What is a mineral?
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and
crystalline structure.
What are the major constituent elements of the bulk Earth and crust?
The major elements include oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and
magnesium.
What is Moh's Hardness Scale?
, Moh's Hardness Scale ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch one another, ranging from
talc (1) to diamond (10).
What is the Continental Drift model?
The Continental Drift model, proposed by Alfred Wegener, suggests that continents were once
connected and have since drifted apart.
What is paleomagnetism?
Paleomagnetism is the study of the magnetic properties of rocks, which helps determine the
historical positions of continents.
What is the Sea-floor Spreading hypothesis?
The Sea-floor Spreading hypothesis, developed by Harry Hess, proposes that new oceanic crust
is formed at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward.
What are the types of plate boundaries?
The types of plate boundaries include divergent, convergent (subduction and continental
collision), and transform boundaries.
What are hot spots?
Hot spots are volcanic regions fed by underlying mantle that is anomalously hot, leading to
volcanic activity independent of plate boundaries.
What is mantle convection?
Mantle convection is the process by which heat from the Earth's interior causes the mantle to
circulate, driving plate tectonics.
What is an igneous rock?
An igneous rock is formed from the solidification of molten material (magma or lava).
What is the difference between magma and lava?
Magma is molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, while lava is magma that has erupted onto the
surface.
What are intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks?
Intrusive igneous rocks form from magma that cools slowly underground, while extrusive
igneous rocks form from lava that cools quickly on the surface.
What is the rock cycle?
The rock cycle is the continuous process of rock formation and transformation through igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic processes.
What is metamorphism?
